Now planning permission has been given, work on the planned Victor Hugo Centre in Guernsey will start within months.
The team behind the plans have been granted a ‘change of use’ for the former States Officers and Tourism Information Centre at the North Esplanade in town.
The Development and Planning Authority also said yes to an extension to the west side of the building, alterations to the south, and landscaping.
Deputy Neil Inder, President of the DPA said he’s excited about this project and is pleased it’s moving forward.
“After considering these proposals, we are really pleased to be able to give them the green light,” he said.
“This is a really exciting project for Guernsey, with lots of clever features, all sensitively and carefully managed to work for a Protected Building in a Conservation Area in the heart of Town. I know that our conservation and planning teams worked very hard to ensure that the scheme was progressed quickly and this was greatly assisted by the careful design approach and helpful level of information provided by the applicant. The sooner this comes forward, the better.”
The building work will transform the current space into a ‘multi-purpose educational and cultural venue’.
It’s expected to cost around £7.5million with that money raised mainly through private donations and partly by tax payers.
The States had agreed to give £1 of funding for every £2 raised, up to a maximum of £2.5m.
Building work is expected to start towards the end of spring next year, with work continuing on the plans, before the project goes out to tender early next year.
Larry Malcic, Chair of the Victor Hugo Centre, said it will bring together three distinct but complementary elements for everyone to enjoy, including a museum and interpretation centre, a performance and exhibition space and a dedicated learning hub supporting education, engagement and community activity.
“Securing planning permission is a major milestone for the Centre and it brings us significantly closer to creating a permanent home in Guernsey for Victor Hugo’s extraordinary legacy,” he said.
“We are enormously grateful to everyone who has helped us reach this point, especially those islanders who have contributed more than £7.5 million towards the capital works and endowment and to the States of Guernsey. There is still work to do and more funding to raise for the long-term sustainability of the project, but this approval allows us to move confidently into the next stage.”
Before the project goes to tender early next year, DLM Architects are continuing to work on the detailed designs and tender documents, alongside exhibition designers Casson Mann.
Until the centre opens, other events associated with Victor Hugo continue to be held, with plans to mark the 160th anniversary of the publication of the ‘Toilers of the Sea’, which he wrote while living in exile in Guernsey.
Upcoming events include a performance of the play ‘The Brainstorm’ by Home and Away actor Patrick Dickson in October. The play highlights the process of Victor Hugo writing his love letter to Guernsey.
Other events planned include visits to local schools.
